Windows Phone sales have almost ground to a halt

Android and iOS now own 98 percent of the smartphone market.

Gartner has released its smartphone stats for Q4 2015 and the news is especially bad for Microsoft. In Q4 2014, the software giant owned 2.8 percent of the smartphone market -- not great, but still good enough for around 10 million units sold. In the same quarter of 2015, however,Windows Phone sales fell to 4.4 million, giving the OS a mere 1.1 percent of the total market. That means that it's basically in a death spiral, as consumers and app developers alike lose interest. Microsoft's rumoredSurface Phone now looks like its last hope to rescue the division.

The rest of the smartphone news ain't great either, as the overall market grew just 9.7 percent, the least since 2008. Apple, for one, saw a big dip in its market share from 20.4 percent to 17.7 percent year-over-year, which jibes with reports that iPhone sales have dropped after booming earlier in the year. The good news for Apple is that it boosted its share a touch in 2015, and that it's reportedly introducing a lower-cost iPhone to compete in the mid-range market.

Meanwhile, Huawei keeps booming. The company saw a big boost in its worldwide market share from 5.7 percent in Q4 2014 to 8 percent in the same quarter of 2015. That came mostly at the expense of Lenovo, which dropped from a 6.6 percent to a 5.0 percent share. Samsung also gained a bit in the quarter, though it fell considerably in 2015 to a 22.5 percent market share from 24.7 percent last year.

Since most of the growth in smartphone sales is coming from emerging markets, companies like Huawei are taking advantage with affordable handsets. That puts Apple in a bind, growth-wise, as it either has to deliver a more affordable phone or try to steal high-end sales away from Samsung, Sony and other Android device makers. Given this snapshot of the current market, it will be interesting to see what kind of new devices emerge next week at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona.

Visit our website:  www.pixotritechnologies.com  , http://pixotrigames.com/

You can now watch Hulu on your Windows 10 device

You could always watch Hulu on your PC or Mac, or for that matter, on multiple other mobile devices. Now the streaming service wants to integrate much deeper, using Windows 10 as its launchpad.

This doesn't mean it will cease to be accessible in all of the previous ways, it just adds one more option for customers of the service.

This comes with a big extra, as Stephen King's11.22.63 appears and will be available to Xbox One customers, including non-Hulu Plus users, for a limited time, running February 15th to the 21st. Right now, it's only episode one available for viewing, but it will be an eight-part series.

There's some interesting integration in this also. Microsoft points out "Hulu's new app works beautifully with Windows 10 features like Cortana and Live Tiles and features an adaptive, responsive layout. The Hulu app on Windows 10 is the only version of Hulu available today that uses universal voice search through Cortana".

An example of the integration would be something like say "Hey, Cortana. Play Hulu Sleepy Hollow". This also supports Live Tiles and can be pinned to your Start menu.

This was created as an all new Universal App, and users can easily choose from the multitude of shows available from Hulu. No matter what your tastes are, you can likely find something to watch.

Visit our website:  www.pixotritechnologies.com  , http://pixotrigames.com/

Microsoft Updates Windows 10 and Publishes Tracking Resources for IT Pros

Microsoft updated Windows 10 today and it also released a new update history page that likely will be of interest to IT pros.

The Feb. 9 updates, like all Windows 10 updates, are "cumulative" updates, which mean they contain all changes since the last update release. The new updates this month address both quality and security issues with Windows 10, but there are no new features added to the operating system.

Today is also Microsoft's "patch Tuesday" for the month of February, and so Microsoft released 13 security bulletins plus one security advisory today. A summary of the security updates is available at this SANS Internet Storm Center page.

Two Updates, One OS

There are two Feb. 9 Windows 10 updates, per the new Windows 10 history page. The update that arrives for an organization will depend on which service branch they are using.

Update KB3135173 is for systems using Windows 10 version 1511 (the November update of Windows 10). It will update these Windows 10 systems to build 10586.104, which is now most current build. Microsoft's new update history page shows a bulleted list of improvements included in this update. It's worth checking out as IT pros may spot problematic issue getting fixed. For instance, the first bullet states that Microsoft "fixed issues with authentication, update installation, and operating system installation," although no other details are provided.

Update KB3135174 is for systems using Windows 10 version 1507 (the July update of Windows 10). It will update these Windows 10 systems to build 10240.16682. Microsoft's update history page also provides a bulleted list of improvements that come with this update, although it, too, contains limited information.

Update History

The new Windows 10 update history page doubtless will be well received by IT pros. Traditionally, they've been used to getting detailed information about Windows client changes, but Microsoft switched its approach with Windows 10, offering scant or no information. With the new history page, IT pros now have a bulleted list, although it no doubt just shows highlights and omits many other changes. The bulleted list does not include links to get more information. However, there is a Windows 10 release information pagethat offers a few more details about the overall release history. Michael Niehaus, directory of product marketing for Windows at Microsoft, pointed to both resources in this Microsoft blog post today.

Tracking Service Branches

The update history page isn't too friendly for IT pros just getting their minds wrapped around Microsoft's current Windows 10 servicing scheme. That scheme involves a "current branch" release, followed by a "current branch for business" release, which happens about four months later. Only the "long-term servicing branch" option permits traditional update deferrals by IT pros, but Microsoft sees that option as only being used for Internet of Things device-management scenarios. Organizations are expected to want to use the current branch for business update approach, according to Microsoft's thinking.

The update history page does have this link to a page that explains Microsoft's Windows 10 servicing options, although a more nuanced explanation can be found here.

The new history page doesn't use Microsoft's servicing branch nomenclature. IT pros have to look at the Windows 10 release information page to get those details. At that page, it's shown that the July Windows 10 update (version 1507) was both the current branch and the current branch for business release, while the November Windows 10 update (version 1511) was just the current branch release. That's really very obscure (and confusing) information, but it's missing in the main Windows 10 history page.

The tools for IT pros to track service branch changes seem to be lagging a bit. Microsoft showcased how tracking will work in a future update to System Center Configuration Manager back in January. Under that concept, organizations will get a graphical view of Windows 10 use per service branch, but we don't know when that capability will arrive in the System Center Configuration Manager product (Microsoft now updates System Center Configuration Manager like Windows 10). In addition, using the free Windows Update for Business management capability to track service-branch changes seems to be a work in progress at this point.

Visit our website:  www.pixotritechnologies.com  , http://pixotrigames.com/

How to Import iPhone Photos to Windows 10

If you've switched from a Mac to a PC, but still use an iPhone, you're probably wondering how you're going to start managing your smartphone's camera roll. Fortunately, you don't need Apple's Photos image management app to easily access the images on your phone, you just need to know how to set things up. 

Below we'll show you how to sync the photos from your iPhone to a Microsoft OneDrive account and then download them your PC. Once everything is set up, your images will be constantly syncing in the background, with or without taxing your mobile data plan.

Before you get started, make sure you've created a Windows Account with Microsoft, as it will be necessary for this process. Each account comes with 5GB for free, just like Apple provides.

How to Import iPhone Photos to Windows 10

1. Click the Start button.

2. Type "Phone companion" into the search prompt.

3. Select Phone Companion from the top of the Start menu.

4. Click iPhone or iPad.

5. Enter your Microsoft account information and click Sign in.

 6. Click "Sign in to just this app instead" to proceed if you don't want to sign into your PC with your Microsoft account, or fill in your PC's sign in password and click Next. You will not see this window if you already log into your PC with your Microsoft account.

7. Select the "Get started" button underneath "Get photos you take with your iPhone or iPad onto your PC, automatically."

8. Tap Yes, This Is Me!  to confirm your identity.

9. Enter your email address and click Send. Microsoft will email you a direct link to OneDrive in the iOS app store. If you tap this link on  your iPhone, you'll be prompted to download the app.  You can also search for OneDrive in the app store on your phone.

10. Select Get next to OneDrive on your iPhone.

11. Tap Install.

12. Select Open.

13. Enter your Microsoft account name and click Go.

14. Enter your Microsoft account password.

15. Tap OK or No, Thanks to agree or disagree to have OneDrive send notifications. It doesn't matter which you choose for our purposes. We selected No, Thanks"

16. Tap the User icon in the upper left corner.

17. Select the Gear icon.

18. Tap Camera Upload.

19. Move the switch next to Camera Upload to the On position.

20. Select OK.

21. Select either Don't Allow or OK, it doesn't actually matter, so defer if you're trying to limit notifications.

22. Turn the switch next to Upload In Background to the On position.

23. Tap Turn On in the bottom right corner to agree to Location Tracking for OneDrive. You might not want to, but it's necessary for background uploads.

24. Tap Allow to give Location permissions to OneDrive. Yes, it's a little redundant, but this is the tap that actually grants permissions to the app.

25. Back on your PC, check the check-box next to "I'm signed in to the OneDrive app on my iPhone or iPad" and select Next.

26. Check the box next to "I turned on Camera Upload in the OneDrive app on my iPhone or iPad."

24. Select Done.

25. Tap the Start button to open the Start menu.

26. Type "Photos."

27. Select Photos.

28. Tap the Gear icon.

29. Toggle on the switch next to Show my cloud-only content.

OneDrive will now import all of the photos on your iPhone to its servers and the Photos app!

Visit our website:  www.pixotritechnologies.com  , http://pixotrigames.com/

How to force Windows 10 update. Get the upgrade icon if it's missing from your desktop and install Windows 10 via Windows Update

Windows 10 is here, and Microsoft made it easy to reserve your upgrade copy of Windows 10by adding an icon in your notification area (it's a small white Windows logo). But if you haven’t seen this upgrade option appear, you might need to do a little tinkering to ensure that you’ll be able to get your free copy easily when the big day comes. Here's how to check you're running the right version of Windows, and what to do if the icon just won't appear. 

Update 4 February 2016: After having had a few Windows 7 machines unable to receive the Windows 10 update, we were able to force the download through Microsoft's 'Get Windows 10' program. We've updated the article to guide you through the steps you need to take in order to upgrade to Windows 10. Do read the rest of the article, though, as it may explain other reasons why Windows 10 won't download or install on your PC.

After having written this article a faster and even easier method to install Windows 10 has emerged, through the Get Windows 10 program that can be found on Microsoft's website. For more information see our in-depth guide explaining How to install Windows 10 using Microsoft's new tool.

Missing Windows 10 upgrade icon: Check your version

While Microsoft said that Windows 10 is a free upgrade to existing Windows customers, it’s actually a little more complicated than that. There are only select versions of Windows that are eligible for the free offer; which we cover in our guide 'Will my PC get Windows 10?'  these are Windows 7 (SP1) and Windows 8.1. If you’re running Windows 8, Vista, XP, or Enterprise versions then the upgrade icon won’t appear as you don’t qualify for Windows 10. Of course you can upgrade Windows 7 and 8 to the necessary versions for free using Windows Update on your PC. If you’re not running an official copy of Windows then it doesn’t matter which version you have, as the system will know and stop you upgrading. Naturally, we realise that our readers are far too honest and splendid to dabble in such forms of piracy, but just thought we’d mention it in the spirit of completeness.

Missing Windows 10 upgrade icon: Windows Updates

Another reason why you might not be seeing the icon is if you have Windows Updates turned off. To remedy this on Windows 7 click on the Start button, type in update, then select Windows Updates. Now you can click Check for Updates, and Install Updates if any are found.

For Windows 8.1 users you’ll need to go to the Windows Store, open the Settings bar on the right side of the screen by either swiping in or moving the mouse pointer there, select App Updates, then ensure that Automatically update my apps is turned on. 

Missing Windows 10 upgrade icon: Check tool

If all of the above is proving futile then there is another route left open. Some rather lovely folks on the Microsoft Support Forums have created a script file that can fix the most common problems that block the upgrade icon from appearing. Now, this isn’t an official Microsoft solution, and therefore must be attempted at your own risk, but from the research we’ve done it certainly seems a legitimate and non-nasty bit of code that is there simply to help people. It’s available to download from Dropbox here. 

Once you have the wind10fix_full.zip file on your hard drive (it only takes a few seconds to download as it’s tiny) you can extract it, then right click on the file to bring up the contextual menu. In here you’ll want to select Run as Administrator, then Run the program.

Now read the instructions on the screen and after a couple of warnings you’ll be presented with a menu. Selecting the first option will run a system update to make sure everything is up to date. Then you can work your way through the other options until you hopefully see the icon appear. 

How to force Windows 10 update: Reserving your copy of Windows 10

Once the mystery of the missing icon is resolved you need to click on the newly arrived Windows logo, then follow the simple instructions to reserve your free copy of Windows 10. If you have any qualms about leaving your old version behind you could take a look at our comparative guides 'Windows 7 Vs Windows 10' and 'Windows 8 vs Windows 10'. 

How to force Windows 10 to download and install through Windows Update

Assuming you've done all of the above and Windows 10 still isn't downloading in Windows Update, try the following.

1 - Make sure Windows Update is set to get updates automatically.

2 - In File Explorer go to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download and delete everything in it. This removes downloaded updates, and one of these could be corrupt or be causing another problem stopping Windows 10 from downloading.

3 - Press Win-R to bring up the Run box. In it, type cmd. A command prompt window will appear.

4 - Type wuauclt.exe /updatenow and press Enter. This forces Windows Update into action.

5 - Check in Windows Update and you should see that it's downloading Windows 10:

Visit our website:  www.pixotritechnologies.com  , http://pixotrigames.com/

Windows 10 is being adopted by business at nearly twice the rate of Windows 8

Microsoft's latest OS is proving more attractive to firms than Windows 8 - particularly among larger businesses.

Businesses are proving far more willing to experiment with Windows 10 than they were with Windows 8.

Six months after Windows 10's launch nearly one in five firms, 18 percent, appear to be testing the OS, research by professional IT network Spiceworks found. In contrast, at the same point after Windows 8's release, the OS was only being trialled by just over nine percent of businesses.

The anonymised data on what proportion of firms are using at least one Windows 10 machine was gathered by Spiceworks from the millions of IT pros that use its software. Spiceworks says businesses of all sizes use the software to inventory devices connected to their networks.

This faster pace of enterprise adoption is backed up by figures from IT asset management company Samanage, which told ZDNet that 62.4 percent of its enterprise customers have at least one managed PC running Windows 10. These are sizeable businesses, with each of Samanage's enterprise customers having an average of more than 1,000 seats. Microsoft also claims that 76 percent of its enterprise customers are piloting its new OS.

"Our data shows that IT pros were most excited about the return of the familiar start button experience in Windows 10, which reduces the need for end-user training required for Windows 8," said Peter Tsai, IT analyst at Spiceworks in his assessment of why the new OS is proving more popular than Windows 8.

"Many IT pros also liked the free upgrade offer via Windows Update, which makes it easy for many to test the new OS. And lastly, they were looking forward to new security features that promise to make Windows 10 a more secure operating system than previous versions."

Windows 10 is benefiting from a comparison to an unpopular OS, demand for Windows 8 was so weak that analyst firm Canalys warned in 2014 that "Microsoft risks losing momentum unless it does something drastic to turn its Windows business around".

And while a significant proportion of businesses may be experimenting with Windows 10, it is likely to be some time before a large number move to the OS, as business typically lag behind consumers due to the complexity of managing such upgrades at scale. Of those firms testing Windows 10, about 40 percent have three or more devices running the OS, according to Spiceworks' data.

Medium and large businesses were the most likely to have at least one Windows 10 machine Spiceworks found - with 31 percent of firms with more than 500 people trialling the OS, compared to 10 percent of companies with 50 employees or fewer.

"We also know from many conversations with IT pros that smaller companies tend to have fewer resources for OS migration, so many SMBs could be holding off on Windows 10 until they have the time and manpower to adequately test the OS for hardware and application compatibility," said Tsai.

Last year, half of the 500 IT pros surveyed by Spiceworks expressed an interest in adopting Windows 10 inside their business.

Microsoft's decision to phase out support for Windows 7 and 8 on new PC hardware will also put pressure on businesses not to downgrade new Windows 10 machines to an earlier OS, as has been common in the past in order to standardize corporate hardware.

Microsoft is also reporting rapid adoption of Windows 10 by home users, with more than 200 million devices worldwide running the OS.

The popularity of the OS may, in part, be a result of Microsoft's tactics to get consumers to upgrade. This aggressive approach includes recently implementing changes that will trigger the free upgrade to Windows 10 to begin automatically installing on many Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 PCs used in homes. Microsoft is making this push as part of its drive to get one billion devices running Windows 10 by 2018.

Visit our website:  www.pixotritechnologies.com  , http://pixotrigames.com/

5 Apps to Help With Your New Year's Resolutions

Want to make your New Year's resolution last more than just a few days? While it ultimately comes down to you, there are plenty of apps that can provide the extra motivation you need to stay the course.

Whether it's quitting a bad habit or building a healthy new one, check out these five apps to help you reach your goals.

$400 Buys New Year’s Eve Tickets...to Olive Garden

Learn a Language

If you've always wanted to learn a new language, now is a great time to start. Duolingo andBabbel both offer great apps for learning a variety of different languages. It's as easy as downloading the apps and slipping in a short lesson whenever you find some free time.

Both have apps for iOS and Android. Duo Lingo has additional availability for Windows Phoneusers.

Get a New Job

Whether you're sick of your boss or ready for a new opportunity, there's always a treasure trove of jobs to be found on Indeed. The popular job search site has a mobile app for iOS andAndroid and it provides access to millions of open jobs. Search for jobs by using filters such as location and salary.

Build a Positive New Habit

Want to work on smiling more? How about completing one random act of kindness a day?

Lift is an app that keeps those positive goals in your sight, letting you track your progress, get community support and celebrate your success. It's also great for pledging to throw out any bad habits. Lift is free on iOS and Android and offers additional in-app coaching starting at $15.

Quit Something

Whether its quitting smoking, drinking or talking to your ex, the free "Quit That!" app will help. Users can download the app, enter one or more things they want to quit and start the clock. The app lets users also put a price on how much the habit they're quitting costs per day. After a while, it's obvious skipping all of those happy hours can add up to some major savings. Quit That! is available for iOS users.

Have Better Nutrition

Knowledge is power. Fooducate helps you make smarter choices about the food you eat. Scan a product barcode to get nutritional info, along with some healthy alternatives. The app also comes equipped with a tracking feature to keep tabs on your nutrition and exercise. Fooducate is free and available on iOS and Android.

Visit our website:  www.pixotritechnologies.com  , http://pixotrigames.com/